Gas condenser



Apr. 10, 1923. 1,451,190

\ F. E. VOORHIES GAS CONDENSER Filed Apr. 28, 1921 4 sheets-sheet 1 GISOL/NE.

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GAS CONDENSER.

Application filed April 28, 1921. Serial No. 465,165.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK E. V0012- HIES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas Condensers and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,

' and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in gascondensers especially adapted for producing casinghead gasoline.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel form of gas condenser which will condense a greater percentage of gasoline from casinghead gas, per horse power of energy expended, than any of the methods now in use. 1

In attaining the above end, other objects are to provide'novel means for carrying out a more effective condensing operation on any uncondensed gas which passes through the main set of condensing coils; and to provide both the main and supplemental coils with inner coils for the condensation of any gases which pass uncondensed to the accumulating tank into which the apparatus discharges.

With the foregoing and minor-objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and association of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of the entire apparatus.

Figure 2 is an end view.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of one of the sections of the cooling coils.

' Figure 4 is a central longitudinal section taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 4.

F igure 6 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the saturating tank.

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken subitantlally on the "plane of the line 7-7 of Inthe drawings above briefly described,

the numerals '1 designate a plurality of'ver 59 l beingconnected by piping 2 with a header 3, said piping being provided with control valves 4, while the header 3 is'equipped with a pressure relief valve 5. A pipe 6 leads to the-header 3 from a saturating tank 7 whose lower end is provided with an 'inlet 8 through which hot gases from a high stage compressor, enter the tank 7 In this tank, the gases are saturated with gasoline which is supplied to said tank through a pipe 10, which pipe delivers onto the uppermost of a series of inclined partitions 9 which are dis posed in staggered relation within the tank 7, the other edges of: said partitions being secured in liquid tight contact with the-wall of the casing, while the inner edge portions of said partitions are free and are disposed I in slightly overlapping relation, so'that the gasoline willdrip from each partition onto the partition immediately below. The gases entering through the pipe 8 zigzag upwardly through the tank 7 and must therefore necessarily travel through the spray of gasoline dripping from the several partitions or baffies 9, the result being that these gases are thoroughly saturated before they enter the header 3 and travel from this header through pipe 2 and coils 1. it

During their passage through the coils 1, the gases are greatly condensed and'the'liquld gasoline thus formed, together with any uncondensed gases, flows from the coils 1 through pipes 11 and control valves 12, to a header 13. From the lower portion of this header, a pipe line 14 leads to a suitable accumulating tank (not shown) so as to carry the gasoline to this tank. The inlet end of the pipe line 14 is tapped by the inlet'end of pipe 10, which pipe is slightly inclined so as to supply the saturating tank 7 with gasoline from the pipe line 14.. Pipe 10 is preferably provided with a control valve 15. Positioned above the coils 1, are a-.plural-' ity of supplemental cooling coils 1 which are adapted to condense the greater part of the gases which enter the'header 13 without being condensed in the'coils 1. These gases rises from the header 13 through a pipe 16 and control valve 17 to a connection 18, which header is connected by pipes 19 with the inlet end of the coils 1 The outlet ends of these coils communicate with pipes 20 having control valves 21, said pipes leading downwardly to a connection '22 which com municates with the pipe line: 14 beyond the header 1%. litv thus .tollows thatthe llqald.

condensed in the coils 1 Will be discharged into the pipe line 14 and Will travel therethrough to the accumulating tank.

Attention may here be directed to the fact that the coils 1 are immediately over the coils 1 and the cooling Water is supplied first to the coils l and then to the coils 1, the result being that the coils 1 Will have greater condensing efficiency than the other coils 1. A plurality of perforated troughs 23 are employed to spray the cold Water over the coils 1 ,'this Water being caught in other same. 7 A ipe line 26'having a control valve 27, leads from the accumulating tank to the inlet ends of relatively small coils 28 which are positioned in the coils 1 the outlet ends of said coils 28 being connected by pipes 29 With aheader 30 adjacent the header 13, said pipes 29 being provided with appropriate valves 31. By means of horizontal pipes 32 and control valves 33, the header 30 communicates with a plurality of coils 34 Which extend through the coils 1, the outlet ends of these coils vbeing placed in communication with a header 35,'by means of appropriate valves 36. An outlet pipe 37 leads from the header 35.

When first operating the apparatus, it is advisable to prime the saturating tank in any suitable manner so that the first gas to enter will be saturated as Well as that Which is supplied to the apparatus after the lat-- ter has condensed'some gasoline to be returned to the tank 7 through the pipe 10. By thus saturating the gases, they will condense much more readily than When the common methods are used. The saturated gases pass from the tank 7 through the pipe 6, header 3, valves 4 and pipes 2, to the inlet ends of the coils 1. The gases travel through these coils around the inner coils 34 and a large proportion of said gases is condensed. The gasoline thus formed, together With any uncondens'ed gases, passes through the ipes 11 and" valves 12 into theheader 13. The gasoline flows from this header through the piping 14 into theaccumulating tank and a small quantity passes through the pipe 10 to the saturating tank 7. The uncondensed gases rise through the valve 17 and the pipe 1:6-to the header l8 and from this header, the gases pass through the pipes 19 to the coils 1",-the latter being at a much lower temperature than the} coils 1, due' not only to the cooling meansprov ided, but to the-tact that the hot gases entering the apparatus never come into engagement with said coils 1. Their cooling efiiciency is thus much'greater than the coils 1 so that most of the gases which have escaped said coils 1, will be condensed to gasoline in the coils 1*. From these coils, the condensate flows through the pipes 20 and valves 21 to the header 22 and from this header it enters the accumulating tank through the piping 14.

Any gases accumulating 'in' the tank Will discharge through'the pipe line 26 and will pass through the small coils 28in the coils 1, leaving these coils and travelling through the pipes 29 and valves 31 to the header 30. From this header, the gases and any liquid which has been condensed therefrom, pass through the pipes 32 and valves 33 to the coils 34, which coils discharge into the header35 through thevalves 36. The condensate is carried off through the outlet .pipe 37 and if any gas remains uncondensed it is allowed toescape as it is proven beyond a doubt that it cannot be profitably condensed.

The apparatus. is comparatively simple and inexpensive, and requires nothing but wellknown condenser parts and connections in its manufacture, yet is much more eflicient than condensers noW commonly used. By employing the device, a great saving iseffeet-ed over apparatuses now used, Whichnot only means a less expensive product, but conservation to a large extent ofthe natural resource from which the gasoline is condensed.

Since excellent results may be obtained from the details disclosed, theyinay Well be followed, but Within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous minor changes may be made.

I claim: 1

1. A condensing apparatus comprising a pair of independent condensers of relatively low and high efficiency respectively, a condensate outlet from the low efliciency condenser, a gas passage leading from said c ondensing outlet to said high efliciency' condenser, and an outlet from thelast named condenser independent of the low efliciency condenser and leading to said condensate out-let.

2. A gas condensing apparatus comprising a condenser having a passagethrough Which the gas passes, said passage having an outlet adapted for connection to an accumulating tank, and piping Within said passage adapted for connection With the accumulating tank to carry off andcondense any gases given oif from the accumulated liquid.

3. A condensing apparatus comprising main and supplemental condensing coils of relatively low and high efliciencyjrespecti-vely, a gas inlet into said main-condensing coil, a condensate outlet leading from said coil and adapted for communication with an.-

accumulating tank, a gas conducting paS- communicating with each other, a passage sage leading from said condensate outlet to leading to one relatively small coil and 10 said supplemental condensing coil, an outadapted to carry gas thereto from the aclet passage from said supplemental condenscumulating tank, and an outlet from the ing coil to said condensate outlet at a point other small coil.

spaced outwardly from said first named gas In testimony whereof I have hereunto set conducting passage, relatively small coils my hand.

Within said main and supplemental coils and FREDERICK E. VOORHIES. 

